Lemon Madeleines | BCM | Tuesdays with Dorie

by RKW@caramelizelife.com on March 10, 2015

My youngest walked into the kitchen while I was prepping my work station for the latests Tuesdays with Dorie scheduled treat from her book Baking Chez Moi. Curious, she wanted to know what I was going to make. “Madeleines!” I said with excitement. I’ve never made these tasty little treats and I was looking forward to trying something new. I could see she was searching for the image to fit the name in her mind. Then she said, “You know Mom, the name Madeleine is so similar to the name of the character Madeline, the lute Mandolin and the slicer Mandoline I didn’t know at first what it was you were making.” Now, each time I think of these little shell shaped cakes, my mind scrolls through each of those images and I giggle.

A buttered petite Madeleine mold awaiting the batter…

Later, when she sat down to taste one of the Madeleines, she said she remembered eating these after school for goûter when we lived in France. I am amazed at how our senses bring back memories so vividly. “The sight of the little madeleine had recalled nothing to my mind before I tasted it.” ~ Remembrance of Things Past (À la recherche du temps perdu), Marcel Proust

My youngest was on to something. Indeed those little Madeleines did have a lineage. Historically these little cakes were believed to be named after a young maid, Madeleine, who worked for the Duke of Lorraine, Stanislas Leczinski in the late 1700s from the French town of Commercy. Once these petite cakes were introduced to the court at Versailles they found their place in the heart of the French.

The Green Carpet- Versailles

With my first batch of Madeleines, I didn’t notice the “bump” that Dorie described in her recipe but I specifically looked for it on my second batch. The “bump” is the gold seal symbol or as she equates it to the holy grail, that one has decidedly mastered the Madeleine and there it was, a large bump on my petite Madeleines. I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered them but I do thank Dorie for spilling her learned secret with me and the rest of the BCM bakers. Her long history of making these and then learning the holy grail secrets from Phillippe Conticini of Patisserie des Reves and Fabrice Le Bourdat of Bel Sucre in Paris makes all of us feel great from the start!

Madeleine’s with a “bosse/ bump”

If you would like to try your hand at making Madeleines at home so you may enjoy a little afternoon goûter, here is the recipe. Alternately, she has shared her Lemon Madeleine recipe here.

Tuesdays with Dorie and Baking Chez Moi is an open group of bloggers having fun baking their way through Dorie Greenspan’s books. Go check out what the other Doristas are doing!

Hi Zosia, ahh, thank you! I think it was beginners luck! My Southern Grandmother Ruth would be so proud to know you liked her tea cup :0) I’m so happy I get to enjoy the china now with her memories.
all the best to you!

Your Madeleines came out beautifully! You’d never know it was your first try. I really enjoyed your post! A delight to read! And that lovely photo of the green carpet…Is that you and your daughter? Loved it!!

Hi Nana, I agree that Versailles is just an amazing place and am so thankful we were able to experience it. I think it would be a hard place to forget ;0)!
Thank you, I really think that it was beginners luck or a very well written recipe maybe both. I went with the petite pan thinking it was nice to have little treats around and share more of them… meaning I wouldn’t eat them all!
cheers to you both.

beautiful! when I read your daughter’s comment about the word “madeleine” I thought she sounded very worldly…no wonder, if she lived in France! glad these little cakes brought back nice memories for you and for her.

Hi Steph, we have fantastic memories of our time in France I think the experience for our children will be a part of their foundation of who they are. It wasn’t always easy for them but in the end they both can’t wait to return. Thank you for stopping by :0)
Happy baking to you!

Thank you so much goldenlifephx! We do have lovely memories of our time there :0). Have you visited Versailles?
I do also remember how extremely hot it was that day and all I wanted to do was jump in that water!

Hi Jora, thank you, I passed on your compliment and she was beaming! Yes, I know I don’t think I would have either, however she’s grown up with the character through Disney and we cook everyday so she is familiar with the kitchen tool and they all sound similar. 😉
Yes, I’m looking forward to dipping the next batch in chocolate!
Cheers to you.

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